'The Flash' joins The CW's supernatural fall lineup

The CW is introducing two new shows, including a spin-off of its current hit “Arrow” for its new fall season.

Grant Gustin stars as "The Flash," a young scientist with the power of super speed, in a new show on The CW Network in the fall 2014. Photo provided by The CW

The CW is the last of the major networks to announce fall plans during what’s known as the upfronts, when broadcasters introduce their new series to advertisers.

The new additions enhance the network’s reputation as a home for shows that deal with twists of fate, the supernatural and superheroes.

The CW’s highest profile new series is arguably “The Flash,” starring Grant Gustin, as a young CSI investigator who is struck by lightning and wakes up after nine months in a coma to discover he has the power of super speed.

Gustin, who had a featured role on “Glee,” was introduced as Barry Allen on several episodes of “Arrow” this season.
The network’s other new series is the comedy drama “Jane the Virgin,” based on a Venezuelan telenovela, about a 23-year-old living in Miami.

Gina Rodriguez stars in the title role of "Jane the Virgin" as a young woman raised on telenovelas and unrealistic expectations of love and relationships on The CW. Photo provided by The CW Network

Gina Rodriguez plays Jane, who has grown up loving telenovelas and developing unrealistic expectations of love and relationships, thanks to the lifelong advice of her sexy mother and devout grandmother. Her life is drastically changed when she is accidentally artificially inseminated during a medical examine. What does she do when she discovers she is pregnant. The donor is a former playboy and cancer survivor played by Justin Baldoni.

“Jane the Virgin” will air at 9 p.m. Mondays following the return of “The Originals,” a spinoff of the Thursday hit “The Vampire Diaries.”

“The Flash” will air at 8 p.m. Tuesdays ahead of the returning “Supernatural.”

The Wednesay and Thursday and Friday schedules remain unchanged, with “Arrow,” “The 100,” “Vampire” Diaries,” “Reign,” “Whose Line is it Anyway?” and “America’s Next Top Model.”

The network also announced that “Hart of Dixie” and “Beauty and the Beast” will return later in the season.

The CW also will introduce two new dramas during the season.

Rose McIver plays a medical resident whose life is upended at a party that becomes a zombie feeding frenzy in the upcoming series "iZombie" on The CW. Photo provided by The CW.

“iZombie” is about an over-achieving medical resident whose life unexpectedly changes the night she attends a party that turns into a zombie feeding frenzy. Liv, played by Rose McIver, ends up taking a job in the Seattle coroner’s office as her friends and family worry about her change in appearance and attitude.

“The Messengers” is about a scientist who sees an unusual object plummet to earth. When it explodes, the shock wave stops her heart and suddenly connects Vera to four strangers who collapse and come back to life hours later.

In all, the five major networks are introducing 25 new series in the fall, with more shows and limited events series being held as replacements.

Diogo Morgado plays The Man in the upcoming CW drama series "The Messengers." Photo provided by The CW

Executives at most of the networks also said that the idea of a traditional fall and spring season no longer works, and they are planning schedules that allow for limited runs that keep fresh programming on the air year-round.CW FALL 2014-2015 SCHEDULE
(New shows in upper case)

MONDAY
8 p.m. “The Originals”
9 p.m. “JANE THE VIRGIN”

TUESDAY
8 p.m. “THE FLASH”
9 p.m. “Supernatural”

WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. “Arrow”
9 p.m. “The 100”

THURSDAY
8 p.m. “The Vampire Diaries”
9 p.m. “Reign”

FRIDAY
8 p.m. “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
9 p.m. “America’s Next Top Model”

Here is a preview clip of "The Flash"

And an extended clip from "The Flash"

A clip from "Jane the Virgin"

Jay Handelman

Jay Handelman is the theater and television critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He also is President of the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time past chairman of the association's executive committee. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4931. Follow him at @jayhandelman on Twitter. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.

Last modified: May 15, 2014
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